DIY Terrarium Guide
Making terrariums are a great way to unwind and connect with nature, and once you're finished, you can enjoy watching your terrarium grow and change for years to come.
If you ordered your Terrarium Kit from our DIY shop, you will have everything you need to make your own terrarium!
To prepare, gather your tools and ingredients and lay them out on a table. If you plan on including any rocks or figurines as part of your landscape, be sure to sterilise them using hot water or antibacterial soap.
Equipment
Glass vessel
Gravel sterilised
Activated Charcoal
Substrate
Plants
Moss
Cork patter
Pipette
It’s also useful to have:
A pair of scissors
Spray bottle/mister
Bowl
Optional:
Springtails (if ordered separately)
Step 1:
Gently place 2-4cms of gravel into the glass.
Tip: Try to avoid pouring the gravel from a height as this can cause the glass to crack.
Step 2:
Rehydrate your moss using a spray mister, or soak in a bowl of water, and squeeze out the excess water and keep it aside.
Step 3:
Sprinkle around a tablespoon of Activated charcoal on top of the gravel layer. You do not need a full layer, but try to spread the activated charcoal evenly.
Step 4:
Next, add the substrate layer, and use the cork patter to gently pat the soil and create a landscape to your liking. You want to add a minimum of 3 cm of the substrate layer so that plants have enough medium to grow into.
Step 5:
Use a spray mister or pipette to moisten the substrate layer. You want this layer to be moist, but not 'wet' or 'sodden'.
Tip: A good way to tell if you have a good amount of moisture is by observing the substrate layer through the glass. If you're facing your terrarium and look either to the left or right-hand side of the terrarium, the consistency of the substrate against the glass should be like a moist cake.
Bear in mind that you are more likely to disturb the balance in your terrarium with too much water, than too little. If in doubt, less is more.
Step 6:
Use the pointy end of your cork patter to make holes in the spaces you'd like to place your plants
Step 7:
Gently remove the plants out of their pots over an empty bowl by squeezing the sides of the pot and loosening the soil. Remove enough soil from the roots of the plants so that they can comfortably fit into the holes.
Tip: You can dip the roots in a cup of clean water to remove excess soil. If your plants have long roots, you can trim some of the roots using a clean pair of scissors, keeping 2/3 cms of the roots attached to the plants.
Step 8:
Place the plants into the holes, and use the patter to secure them in place by patting the substrate around it. You want to pat the soil so that the plants stay in place, but try not to compact the soil too much as this may prevent air from getting to the roots.
Step 9:
Once you're happy with the placement of your plants, you can begin adding the moss and decorative stones.
Tip: You can use as much or little moss as you like and make it easier to work with by trimming the yellow parts of the moss, leaving the lush green top.
Step 10:
Check the moisture levels in the substrate layer, adding a few more pumps from the spray mister if needed.
Step 11:
If you ordered Springtails as part of your order, now is a good time to add them! You can either tip them into your terrarium and remove the coco husk once they feel at home, or you can pick up the coco husks using chopsticks and gently tap it against the inside surface of the glass and pop the lid on.
Step 12:
As you admire your creation, get familiar with how to care for your creation!
One of the greatest joys of terrariums is watching them grow! It's a good idea to take a photo of it on the day you made it, so you can track its progress in the coming months (and years!)
Tag @Little_Eden_terrariums and share your creation with our community of terrarium lovers!
